Pocket Tape Rule Holder Assembly

ABSTRACT

The tape rule holding assembly includes an engaging member, which can be made of a flat steel spring, folded over itself to form a clip that can attach securely to a user&#39;s pocket. The engaging member is encased within a protective covering, which can be made of leather. The protective covering prevents wear and tear on the user&#39;s pocket by reducing the amount of friction created when the holding assembly rubs against the user&#39;s pocket. A tool engaging member is attached to the protective covering which allows any tool with a clip, including a tape rule, to slide securely onto it. The tool then hangs conveniently off of the pocket of the user where it is easily accessible.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Many tools, including tape measures, have a clip attached to it so that the tool may be clipped to a user's waist, belt or pocket. The main problem with such clips is that they tend to tear up the area of clothing where they are attached. The present invention relates to an improved tape rule holder assembly for removably attaching a tape measure having a clip to a user's pocket. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a tape measure holding assembly made from a steel clip that has a covering member, preferably made of leather, that prevents the steel from rubbing against the pocket and wearing it out.

2. Description of Related Art

There is existing prior art that addresses clips that allow tape rules to be clipped to pockets and tape rule holders made of leather. The prior art does not address combining a tape rule holder to be clipped to pockets and such holders being made of leather in a streamlined package.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,985 to Chapin discloses an adjustable clip for mounting a tape rule to a user's pocket. The clip is a strip of spring steel mounted directly onto the tape rule casing. The mounting is accomplished by using a screw to attach the clip to the case. U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,933 to Seber discloses a leather tape rule holder comprised of two flat pieces of leather. One piece of leather has belt slots to allow the holder to be attached directly to a user's belt. U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,741 to Hillinger discloses a holding assembly for a tape rule that has a clip that allows for a separate assembly to attach to a user's belt. This allows for the tape rule to be placed into the holding assembly, rather than mounting the clip directly to the tape rule casing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tape rule holding assembly includes a flat steel spring folded over to provide a clip that allows the holding assembly to be attached to a user's pocket. The flat steel spring is encased within a protective covering that prevents the steel spring from rubbing against the user's pocket and wearing it out. The protective covering can be made of leather. Attached to the protective covering is a holding member that allows tools that have a clip to slide onto the holding member. Many existing tape rules already have this clip on their backside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take form in certain components and structures, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tape measure holding assembly as viewed from the left side.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the tape measure holding assembly.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the tape measure holding assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tape measure holding assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is carried out as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. A clothing engaging member/clip 10 is used to provide the rigid structure that allows the holding assembly to securely attach to a user's pocket. The clip 10 is preferably made of a flat steel spring, but can be made of anything that is flexible enough to be folded 12 but rigid enough to maintain the shape of the clip to allow it to securely attach to a user's pocket. A protective covering 14 then encases the clip 10 to prevent the clip 10 from rubbing against the user's pocket and wearing it out. This protective covering 14 works well if made of leather, but can also be made of plastic or anything that is durable enough to support the weight of the tool engaging member and can also hold the clip securely within the covering. A tool engaging member 18 is firmly attached to the protective covering 14 so that the tool engaging member 18 can support the weight of any tool that has a clip on its casing. The tool engaging member 18 was designed as being made of steel but can be also be made of plastic or any material that can handle the weight of a tool and not chip or break. The tool engaging member 18 is preferably attached to the protective covering with a set of rivets 20. However, the tool engaging member 18 can also be attached with an adhesive, screws or any other fastener that allows the tool engaging member 18 to be attached securely enough that it will not be dislodged from the protective covering by the weight of a tool.

Tape rules are one of the most common tools that already come with a clip that can slide onto the tool engaging member. Many repair and construction workers are already used to placing their tape rules in or around their pocket, so a tape rule is the most likely tool to be attached to the holding assembly. However, impact drivers are tools that are rapidly increasing in popularity with construction and repair workers and such impact drivers usually come with a clip on the casing. Therefore, impact drivers can also be attached to this holding assembly. Any other tool that has a clip on its casing can also be attached, depending on what a user prefers to have held around their pocket. Jeans are the preferable apparel for a user of this holding assembly as jeans are durable and can withstand the weight of the assembly and the tool. Workman's overalls are made of similar material as jeans and their pockets are also capable of withstanding such weight. The holding assembly can be attached to the pocket of virtually any apparel, so long as the apparel is made of sturdy enough material to withstand the weight of a tape rule or other tool.

An alternative embodiment of the invention where the protective covering 14 is not used, is possible if the clip 10 can be made of a sturdy enough material to retain its shape and attaching capability. Additionally, the clip 10 needs to be machined in such a way that it is smooth enough to prevent generating excessive friction when rubbing against the user's pocket and causing wear and tear on the pocket. 

1. A holding assembly comprising: a clothing engaging member made of a sturdy, flexible material; said clothing engaging member has a front side, a back side, a top half and a bottom half; said top half of said clothing engaging member has a single fold; wherein said single fold is comprised of folding said top half of said clothing engaging member over itself so that said single fold forms a clip; a protective covering member with a front side a back side, a top half and a bottom half; wherein said bottom half of said protective covering member is wider than said top half of said protective member; said protective covering member completely encasing said clothing engaging member; wherein said protective covering member has a single fold; said single fold of said protective covering member is comprised of folding said top half of said protective covering member over itself so that said back side of said protective covering member is facing said back side of said protective covering member and forming a clip covering of said clip of said clothing engaging member; a tool holding member which is connected by a securing member to said bottom half of said front side of said protective covering member; said clip covering of said protective covering member can attach securely onto a pocket of a user's apparel; said tool holding member can securely hold a tool.
 2. The holding assembly of claim 1, wherein said tool holding member is made of plastic.
 3. The holding assembly of claim 1, wherein said tool holding member is made of steel.
 4. The holding assembly of claim 1, wherein said clip covering of said protective covering member attaches securely to said user's apparel by sliding onto said pocket of said user's apparel.
 5. The holding assembly of claim 4, wherein said clothing engaging member is made of a flat steel spring.
 6. The holding assembly of claim 4, wherein said protective covering member is made of leather.
 7. The holding assembly of claim 4, wherein said securing member is a set of rivets.
 8. The holding assembly of claim 4, wherein said securing member is an adhesive material.
 9. The holding assembly of claim 8, wherein said adhesive material is glue.
 10. The holding assembly of claim 4, wherein said user's apparel is a pair of jeans.
 11. The holding assembly of claim 4, wherein said user's apparel is a set of workman's overalls.
 12. The holding assembly of claim 4, wherein said individual tool is any tool with a clip attachment.
 13. The holding assembly of claim 12, wherein said individual tool is a tape measure.
 14. The holding assembly of claim 12, wherein said individual tool is an impact driver.
 15. The holding assembly of claim 12, wherein said tool holding member holds said individual tool by sliding said clip attachment of said tool onto said tool holding member.
 16. A tape measure holding assembly comprising: a clothing engaging member made of a sturdy, flexible material; said clothing engaging member has a front side, a back side, a top half and a bottom half; said top half of said clothing engaging member has a single fold; said single fold is comprised of folding said top half of said clothing engaging member over itself so that said single fold forms a clip; a protective covering member with a front side a back side, a top half and a bottom half; wherein said bottom half of said protective covering member is wider than said top half of said protective member; said protective covering member completely encasing said clothing engaging member; wherein said protective covering member has a single fold; said single fold of said protective covering member is comprised of folding said top half of said protective covering member over itself so that said back side of said protective covering member is facing said back side of said protective covering member and forming a clip covering of said clip of said clothing engaging member; a tape measure holding member which is connected by a securing member to said bottom half of said front side of said protective covering member; said protective covering member attaches securely onto a pocket of a user's apparel by sliding said clip covering onto said pocket of said user's apparel; said tape measure holding member can hold a tape measure with a clip attachment by sliding said clip attachment of said tape measure onto said tape measure holding member.
 17. The tape measure holding assembly of claim 16, wherein said protective covering member is made of leather.
 18. The tape measure holding assembly of claim 16, wherein said securing member is a set of rivets.
 19. The tape measure assembly of claim 16, wherein said securing member is an adhesive.
 20. A tool holding assembly comprising: a clothing engaging member made of a sturdy, flexible and smooth material; said clothing engaging member has a front side, a back side, a top half and a bottom half; said top half of said clothing engaging member has a single fold; said single fold is comprised of folding said top half of said clothing engaging member over itself so that said single fold forms a clip; a tool holding member which is connected by a set of rivets to said bottom half of said front side of said clothing engaging member; said clothing engaging member attaches securely onto a pocket of a user's apparel by sliding said clip of onto said pocket of said user's apparel; wherein said clip of said clothing engaging member slides on in such a way that said clothing engaging member produces a very low amount of wear and tear on said user's apparel; said tool holding member can hold a tool with a clip attachment by sliding said clip attachment of said tool onto said tool holding member. 